Abstract: A tubular membrane plant growth unit is described. The unit includes a tubular pipe with an opening in its wall. A tubular porous member is situated inside of the pipe. The member and pipe are arranged to provide a space between them for a seed to be positioned so that the stem of the plant grows outwardly through the opening and the roots of the plant grow in the space between the member and pipe. The unit is useful for hydroponic growth of the plant.

Abstract: A tension gauge for measuring the principal tensions in an elastic material and providing specific information about the magnitude and direction of the principal tension. The tension gauge employs a frame structure over which an elastic material is stretched. A depressing device depresses the center of the elastic material a known distance and the force required for this activity is measured. In the device, either the contact surface of the depressing device or the frame structure is non-symmetric about two orthogonal axes. In either case, because of the non-symmetric nature, the relative sensitivity of the tension gauge to the major axis tension and minor axis tension in the elastic material will be different and fixed by the ratio of the major and minor axis of either the frame structure or the contact surface of the depressing device, whichever is non-symmetric. The principal tensions in elastic material and information about their magnitude and direction are determined.

Abstract: A diet delivery system for the controlled delivery of food to an animal particularly adapted to facilitate intake monitoring and maintain biocontainment capabilities while in microgravity is provided. The system includes a cage insert for an animal enclosure module having a diet servicing compartment adjacent an animal enclosing compartment. A diet housing unit is removably received in the diet receiving compartment and is held in place by a cover. The diet housing includes a housing aperture through which the animal feeds. A first barrier device is selectively movable to block the housing aperture or to allow feeding. A removable diet cassette is inserted in the diet housing and includes an aperture through which the animal feeds and a second barrier device selectively movable for blocking the cassette aperture or for allowing feeding. A diet container in which the food is stored is also provided together with a holding mechanism for releasably holding the diet container in the cassette.

Abstract: A lunar habitat is provided by placing an external tank of an orbiter in a low Earth orbit where the hydrogen tank is separated from the intertank and oxygen tank which form a base structure. The base structure is then outfitted with an air lock, living quarters, a thermal control system, an environmental control and life support system, and a propulsion system. After the mounting of an outer sheath about the base structure to act as a micrometeoroid shield, the base structure is propelled to a soft landing on the moon. The sheath is mounted at a distance from the base structure to provide a space therebetween which is filled with regolith after landing. Conveniently, a space station is used to outfit the base structure. Various elements of the oxygen tank and intertank are used in outfitting.